Chess has played a significant role in the cultural and sporting history of London, which has long been one of the major centers of the game in the English-speaking world. A landmark event in chess history took place in the city in 1851, when London hosted the first international chess tournament, organized by the English player Howard Staunton in conjunction with the Great Exhibition. This tournament, won by Adolf Anderssen, is widely regarded as a foundational moment in the development of modern competitive chess, establishing standardized tournament play and international participation.

While no single unified World Championship tournament was held entirely in the city, London hosted important matches and games connected to championship cycles, notably during the late nineteenth century. Games from the 1886 World Chess Championship, the first official match for the world title between Wilhelm Steinitz and Johannes Zukertort, were played in London, alongside venues in the United States. The city was also a regular host of elite tournaments featuring reigning or future world champions throughout the twentieth century.

In the modern era, London reaffirmed its prominence through the London Chess Classic, an elite tournament held annually between 2009 and 2019 as part of the Grand Chess Tour in later years. The event regularly featured the world’s top players, including multiple world champions, and contributed to the revival of high-profile over-the-board chess in the United Kingdom. Through its historic tournaments, championship associations, and continued role as a host of elite competition, London occupies a central place in the global history of chess.

As of 2025, there are about 30 chess clubs members of the London Chess League.